Ontwerpen voor horlogekasten 1703

Pierre Bourdon created these designs for watch cases using etching techniques in the Netherlands during the latter half of the 17th century. These intricate patterns of foliage, figures, and geometric forms were not simply decorative. In the Dutch Golden Age, timepieces were potent symbols of wealth and status. The elite flaunted their prosperity through such luxury objects. Artisans like Bourdon catered to this demand by creating an abundance of designs which watchmakers and their patrons could choose from. The watch thus became a means of displaying not only wealth but also refined taste. The etching medium allowed for the mass production and distribution of these designs to workshops across the region. To fully understand such an image, historians consult pattern books, trade records, and surviving examples of the objects themselves. The history of art always relies on these kinds of contextual investigations.